Amazon might not seem the most obvious choice for selling your lampshades, but since the online shopping giant created Amazon Handmade, a dedicated platform that champions high-quality products and passionate makers, it suddenly becomes a more viable and interesting option. We explore the time, effort and cost, alongside the pros and cons, of selling on Amazon Handmade. How big is Amazon? There are no bones about it, Amazon is HUGE in the UK. It's the largest online marketpla

Discovering a niche gap in the interiors market, that happily coincided with his passion for creativity, Rab Moghal of Light Owl made it his personal mission to create a lampshade making business that would stand head and shoulders above the rest. By applying his far-reaching business knowledge, principles and efficiencies and by having a positive passion for his lampshades, customers and team, Light Owl have recently sold their 4,000th shade - that's after just two and half

Making and selling lampshades may be your dream job, but have your thought about the more regulatory and safety considerations of retailing your own lampshades? In this BEAM post we’ve collated information, standards and guidance in association with The Lighting Industry Association (LIA), to highlight what you need to know from a safety perspective and to ensure the hard lampshades you’re making are to the highest possible safety standards. Lighting terminology Before we st

The selling platform giant eBay might not sing 'handmade' or be your first choice for selling your lampshades, but as we take a closer look in this month's BEAM post, there's definitely potential to boost your brand, gain loyal customers and showcase your shades. How big is eBay? The simple answer is BIG! eBay is one of the biggest online selling platform in the UK, second to Amazon and has whopping 298 million visits per month. As a global selling platform, the ubiquitous eB

We've loved helping you explore the many ways of expanding your business with our more practical Business Expertise and Advice for Makers posts, but what about learning from someone who's experienced and developed a successful homeware brand? Sian Elin has managed to do just that, by capitalising on her talents as a print designer, being stocked by and collaborating with high street stores, as well as receiving national press accolades and presenting lampshades on live TV. Wi

You've ticked off all of the online marketplaces for selling your lampshades and your business is off to a great start, but there is another often overlooked opportunity that could be sitting right on your doorstep - selling to small independent retailers. If you love browsing and buying in independent shops as much as the next person why not put your products on their shelves! In this BEAM post, we take you through how to approach being stocked in small retailers, what you'l

Ways to expand your lampshade making business come in many forms and so far in our BEAM posts we’ve extensively explored marketplace selling platforms to retail to individual customers. But what if your dreams of building a lampshade empire are bigger than that? If this sounds like you, then it could be time to think about scaling up your operation and look at selling to larger retailers and we've collected together information that will help you on your way. Start at the beg

Smart tech and easy clicks make Facebook a exciting place to sell your lampshades and if you're already promoting your lampshade making business on Facebook, taking it one step further could bring you more sales. Today's BEAM (Business Expertise and Advice for Makers) post takes you through what to consider when selling on Facebook and how you can make the most of this low cost marketplace platform. How big is Facebook? 54.8 million Facebook users in the UK with individuals a

Not on the Highstreet was set up in 2006 as an alternative selling platform to showcase quality handmade goods that... you guessed it.... can't be found on the high street. From chocolates to children's wear and pearls to pottery, there are thousands of gift ideas for any friend or loved one, but how does Not on the Highstreet fare as a selling platform for your lampshades? We take a closer look at the platform, how it might work for you in growing your shade-making business.

Social media selling platforms are fast becoming the free and easy way of expanding the visibility of your products and making some sales too! In this BEAM (Business Expertise and Advice for Makers) post we’ll be uncovering and sharing how Instagram and its owner, Facebook, are linked to providing a powerful selling platform with little or no budget, to huge audiences. Instagram need to knows 70% of shoppers turn to Instagram to discover new products and with over 1 billion u